launched some time between 1967 and 1977

Christine kindly sent pictures of her Hostess TE34. The date of these models is not known but must have been produced between 1967 and 1977 and manufactured at Ekco-Hawkins' Drury Lane, Hastings address. There is no clue on either the box or the instructions as to a specific date other than a label on the box which states "NEW C.E.E. CODED FLEXIBLE FITTED" and the wires, coloured brown, blue and green/yellow.

Graeme sent me details of his different version of the TE34.

Both the teapot and the kettle are unmarked but on the bottom of the clock/lamp there is a sticker that says

HOSTESS TEAMAKER
CAT.No.TE34 REG. DES. PAT. APP. FOR
230/40V 430W AC ONLY
EKCO-HAWKINS LTD
HASTINGS, SUSSEX, ENGLAND

On the underside of the tray there is circular stamp with the following in raised lettering EKCO-HAWKINS DRURY LANE HASTINGS (outer circle) MADE IN ENGLAND (inner circle).

The boiling water spout on the kettle has a plastic end piece that lifts up so that you can easily remove the teapot when full of tea without having to tilt anything. The metallic gold trim down the sides of the tray add a touch of class.

The Hostess has a particularly nice design feature in that you can choose to have the teapot either on the right or the left of the kettle, unlike Goblins, most of which have the teapot on the right of the kettle. This gives the Hostess two distinct advantages. Firstly it does not discriminate against left handed people who prefer to pick up teapots with their left hand, and secondly it gives the couple complete freedom to choose which side of the bed to have the Hostess so long as electricity supply is not a restriction.

All in all it is really first class design, stylish looks, very functional and a 24hr clock which means you can set it when you get up in the morning and not have to leave it till the evening when you are tired and might forget.

The Hawkins Universal trademark, used by Hawkins for their Pressure Cookers, was acquired by Hawkins Cookers Limited in 1986. They are based at F-101 Maker Towers, Cuffe Parade, Bombay, India and they have factories at Thane, Jaunpur and Hosiyarpur in India.

Started in 1959 by a professional manager - turned - enterprenuer when pressure cookers were virtually unknown in India, Hawkins Cookers was known as Pressure Cookers and Appliances. It is a leading manufacturer of cookers with a 32% market share, competing with more than 100 models of cookers in the market, from both the organised and unorganised sectors. Hawkins has an extensive product range consisting of pressure cookers, cooker accessories, non-stick cookware, cuisinettes and satilon cookware.

The company markets its entire product range in the domestic market under its own brand name, Hawkins, while it exports its products to the US under the Futura brand name. It is sold in some of the top departmental stores in Europe and America. The company also exports to Yugoslavia, Japan, Panama, Mexico, Finland and the Netherlands.

The company diversified by launching blended spices, specially formulated for pressure cooking. PCA Engineers, a subsidiary, was merged with the company in 1993 and its entire business and undertakings were transferred to Hawkins.